2005 WSOP Event #1: $500 Casino Employees-Only No Limit Holdem

, 2005-06-03, by TwoGun

Submitted by: Ozone

The much anticipated 2005 World Series of Poker (WSOP) got underway on Thursday June 2nd with the annual $500 casino employees No Limit Event. Every year the WSOP begins with the casino employee-only event. As with all other WSOP events, the winner receives a gold bracelet and first-place cash. This year, Binions Horseshoe dealer Andy Nguyen beat 661 other entries en route to an $83,390 pay day. Binions Horseshoe, the location where the Main Event Final Table will be played, has employed Andy for four years. California dealer Danilo Flores lost to Nguyen heads-up and earned $43,195 for the effort.

This year, the WSOP was pushed back to a June start-date. Traditionally the festivities begin in April, but changes were made after Harrahs Casino bought the rights to the WSOP. A record number of 45 events are being spread at the 2005 WSOP. New events include 6-handed table No Limit tournaments, and the much anticipated $10,000 buy-in Pot Limit Omaha World Championship. The $10,000 Main Event begins Thursday July 7th. Well over 6,000 players are expected to enter into the event, which is more than double of the 2004 WSOP. The poker boom is alive and well at the 2005 World Series of Poker.